Adrian Peterson took a day pass from Vikings organized team activities Thursday, opening a hole in the backfield eagerly filled by understudies Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon.

There is little glamour playing behind the NFL's most productive running back since 2007. Just ask Toby Gerhart, Peterson's inconspicuous four-year back up who bolted to Jacksonville the moment he became a free agent.

In the first week of June, the stakes are low as players continue integrating first-year coach Mike Zimmer's new offensive and defensive schemes. Still, the Asiata-McKinnon battle for Peterson's leftovers figures to be among the most competitive during training camp, pitting a third-year undrafted battering ram against a rookie jitterbug.

"We're not always looking for the same guy," Zimmer said. "You want to have a change-the-pace guy, a guy that can protect, a guy that can catch the ball out of the backfield."

The diverse skill sets of Asiata and McKinnon give the coaching staff plenty to consider in short yardage, or whenever Peterson takes a breather.

"Jerick can do a lot of different things," said Zimmer. "Matt is kind of an all-purpose guy. He's a good runner, a good protector. Probably not as explosive as Jerick is, or Adrian, but he can take some punishment, give some punishment. I've been really impressed with the way he's worked in the weight room this offseason."

Asiata seized his moment during two starts late last season when Peterson and Gerhart were sidelined with injuries.

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In Week 15, he started for the first time and scored three touchdowns in a 48-30 blowout of the Eagles at the Metrodome.

It was an emotional day for Asiata, whose family was in town from Utah less than two months after his father, Pita, died in a bus crash. The performance also broadened Asiata's portfolio beyond his special-teams contributions.

"I think it helped me a lot with the new coaches looking at me from last year," he said. "But it's a never-ending story. I have to come out here and compete, bust my butt and just play hard."

"We're like brothers," Asiata added of his new running back companion. "We're still learning. We've just got to compete against the defenders."

The Vikings drafted McKinnon in the third round out of Georgia Southern, where he played quarterback, running back, defensive back and returned kicks. At 5-9, 209 pounds, he is a prototypical scat back who can dart through tackles and slip into the flat for screen passes.

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who successfully utilized similarly built Darren Sproles in San Diego, has made it known he plans to involve Peterson and the running backs more in the passing attack.

"I just want to show I can take a lot on my plate and make the transition with a new playbook coming in fast," McKinnon said. "Hopefully I'm doing things right to turn the coaches' heads, have them build faith and trust in me that if I get in, I'll do what's right."

McKinnon's stock skyrocketed when he flashed his athleticism at the scouting combine. He ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and showcased a 40.5-inch vertical jump, capping off his exploits by bench pressing 225 pounds 32 times -- more than any running back.

"It definitely helped me get to where I am now, getting second looks from coaches," he said. "But I don't think it means anything now."